Mikel Arteta has revealed that Declan Rice picked up an injury during a recent pre-season training session.
The English midfielder, who became the Gunners’ record-signing after joining from West Ham for £105 million earlier this month, has already featured for Arteta.
However, playing Barcelona in the early hours of this morning; a game they won 5-3, Rice failed to make the squad.
And confirming to reporters in his post-match press conference that the former Hammers’ captain was too ‘uncomfortable’ to play after receiving a ‘strong kick’ in training, Arteta said: “Dec had quite a strong kick in training.
“I wouldn’t want to take the risk, he wasn’t really comfortable to train yesterday and today.
“We decided not to play him.”
?? “Dec [Rice] had a quite strong kick in training and we didn’t want to take the risk. He wasn’t really comfortable to train yesterday and today.”
Mikel Arteta provides an update on Declan Rice after being left out of Arsenal’s 5-3 win over Barcelona last night. ? pic.twitter.com/La6XLPtPEU
— Football Daily (@footballdaily) July 27, 2023